The Art of the Application of Chant – Yoga Sūtra or Veda Mantra as a Practice

The aim is to reflect the fundamentals of Śrī Krishnamacharya’s teaching, namely, transmission occurs through the direct experience of the teacher with the students personal practice and study Sādhana.

Paul was taught the Art of Veda Mantra, Indian Textual and Yoga Sūtra Chanting as a personal Sādhana through 121 lessons with TKV Desikachar over 20 years. As well as studying Chanting, he studied Indian singing through 121 lessons in Chennai within both the Carnatic and Hindustani music systems.

“To share Chanting is to share an experience of silence through listening, a process of healing, and a link with nature, the deeper self and the divine.”
– TKV Desikachar

It was taught by his teacher to facilitate transmission of sacred teachings and as a personalised Sādhana through which one can became immersed in the profundity of an experience of the Sacred.

This involved refining the art of listening by repeating what was heard, traditionally two or three times, until it exactly matched what was being chanted. Learning primarily under his teacher and, through his guidance and recommendation for specifically related Veda Mantra and Yoga Sūtra Chant material.

Paul also worked with 121 lessons with Desikachar’s own senior-most Chanting students including Sujaya Sridhar and Desikachar’s wife Menaka Desikachar. Through these many 121 resources, to refine both Veda Mantra and Yoga Sūtra Chanting, Paul’s interest in this ancient art and practice flourished.

Paul further explored Indian voice work in the West with some of the leading proponents of Indian Rāga singing and movement fusion workshops and Indian Rāga 121 vocal skills lessons.

Personal Chanting Lessons Involve

However it is only through personal transmission within 121 lessons that the individual student’s chanting learning needs can be truly met in terms of Saṃskṛta pronouncing, musical pitch, Saṃskṛta timing, vocal strength, ones ability to sustain a note and maintain continuity of breath and sound.

We will meet for lessons of up to an hour through which we can explore your interest and propose a home practice that identifies your needs and offers a structured developmental home practice.

The frequency of meetings will also be determined and personal lessons may be supported by Skype sessions discussing progress and exploring obstacles or problems that may arise.

Online Personal Chanting Practice – 121 Live Lesson Review Sessions

Increasingly I have found this medium helpful as a means to offer follow up practice support reviews for 121 students as an adjunct between live meetings, especially where there where long distances involved in terms of direct access. This point of contact offered opportunities to discuss questions, or to clarify interpretations, or observe how the students practice mirrored the teachers intention.

Online Personal Chanting Practice – 121 eLesson Sessions

However regarding requests to explore your personal Chanting practice solely through a virtual medium are still in reflection mode for me. Plus any choices are also dependent on circumstances, needs and possibilities around the student and the virtual medium.

There are many practical and theoretical aspects that need to be learnt as underpinnings to the practice of chanting. Thus, as with any aspect of the viniyoga of learning, it is only through personal transmission within 121 lessons that the individual student’s chanting needs can be truly met in terms of Saṃskṛta pronouncing, musical pitch, Saṃskṛta timing, vocal strength, ones ability to sustain a note and maintain continuity of breath and sound.

So, given these considerations, I am open to discussing options with interested students, but would need to look at each situation and the options available.

Fees for Personal Chanting Lessons and Review Meetings

Chanting sessions will be £53 for a personal lesson of up to one hour with the option, subject to need and situation, of £27 for a practice review meeting of up to 30′.

Free Initial Meeting

A free preliminary half hour meeting is available with Paul. Please email to arrange an initial meeting, either at his studio near Stroud or Online, to chat around options regarding Chanting within Individual lessons.